Ireland - Comhaltas Archive

TREOIRoveruse or heavy playing of the basswill invariable destroy the overalltraditional sound coming from theinstrument); in the centre of theaccordion we have bellows, which asthe name suggests creates the twowayair flow required to make asound .. . ; to the right of the bellows(where the name of the accordion isusually found) we have the reeds,usually in blocks of two or three -these are brass reeds which vibrate asthe air is pushed or pulled through,thus creating notes; then on theextreme right we have fingerboardwhich resembles the keyboard of apiano - once one of these keys isdepressed, it allows air to be suckedthrough the corresponding reed.The physical makeup of the instrumentin its design as a chromatic reedinstrument only allows for one singlenote to be heard from anyone key, nomatter what direction you push or pullthe bellows. This is the single greatestdifference to that of the buttonaccordion which is diatonic instructure (i.e. you have two separatenotes for each key on the buttonaccordion depending on the directionof the bellows movement). In this waythere is a regular change in bellowsdirection on the button accordionwhich creates a natural rhythm asopposed to the piano accordionwhere bellows action goes in longone-directional movements. A lotmore work is required on the pianoaccordion to create a rhythm andtherefore it is much easier to create atraditional sound on a buttonaccordion than on the pianoaccordion. This fact coupled with themisuse of heavy bass playing is thereason for all the bad press receivedby the "piano-accordionestablishment" (the majority of it wellfounded!) .In summing up, now that I've explainedwhy the piano-accordion is such aterrible instrument and given reasonwhy it should never be allowed in atraditional session, one thing is all Iask - when you see a young lad orlassie dragging in this massive box intothe session, have a bit of sympathy andunderstanding for the mountainhe/she must climb in order to fit inwith the rest of the fiddles, flutes,concertinas, banjos, button accordionsand pipes ... but when that goal hasbeen achieved by them, the look inyour eye should change to that ofrespect - for in the capable hands of agifted and sensitive player, the pianoaccordion is truly a "beauty" and itsplace in the Traditional Irish Musicworld is surely secure!- Fleadh Luimnf ProgrammeThe IrishRamblingHouse"Come back withus to the flags ofthe old kitchenfloor"r - .,I Fleodh , Cheoil no II hEireonn 2001I~Guinness Gig RigBookingslI Groups who wish to perform onI the Gig Rig should contact: IMiche"e BuckleyI Tel : 068-22970E-mail: Lmbuckley@eircom.netTheIrishRamblingHouseSummer Shows in LimerickJ urys Hotel, LimerickWoodlands Hotel A dareCourtney LodgeN ewcastlewest3rd Tour of Britain(Dct 17th - 21st 2001)"30 Mighty Entertainers"Back by Popular DemandBolton, ManchesterGaltymore, LondonCoventry & LiverpoolCatalogue of videos, includingAmerican format, available fromIrish Rambling House Recordings,Lyreacrompane, Co. KerryPhone: 00353 (0)68 48353email: ramblinghouse@eircom.netWeb: www.kerrymusic.com34